Soil auger lifter



Aug. 21, 1951 D. H. ERNEST, JR 2,564,965

SOIL AUGER LIFTER Filed May 17, 1950 30 l H I 32 Dav/d HErnesf, Jr.

I N V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOIL AUGEIt LIFTELa 7 David H. Ernest, Jr.-, Trinidad, 0010. Application May 17, 1950, Serial No. 162,548,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lifting devices and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a device for lifting a soil auger so that the auger may be quickly and readily removed from a hole in a convenient manner.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a soil auger lifter that embodies a pair of gripping jaws mounted on a vertically swingable yoke in such a manner as to effectively grip and raise an auger as the yoke is depressed by a users foot.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a soil auger lifter that is extremely small and compact in structure and which is foot operated to raise an auger sufficiently to permit the auger to be manually withdrawn from a hole.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a soil auger lifter that is strong and reliable in use, simple and practical in construction, efficient and durable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, references being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1; and,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 and showing the device in use for lifting an auger.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral Ii] represents a base plate having a guide opening [2. A guide sleeve I 4 rises from the base plate about the edges defining the opening [2 and will slidably receive an auger A when the device is in use.

A yoke or bifurcated member I6 is associated with the base plate 10 and includes a shank or lever [B that supports a foot grip 20. A transverse pivot 22 is fixed to the undersurface of the yoke l6 and its ends are received in apertures provided in a pair of ears 24 rising from the base plate for vertical swinging movement of the yoke toward and away from the base plate.

The ends of the yoke [6 are reinforced and strengthened by a cross-bar 26 that is terminally secured to the ends of the yoke. The yoke is urged against the base plate with the grip 6 Claims. (Cl. 254132 raised, by a coil spring 28 that is terminally fixed to the undersurface of the yoke IE or the lever I8 and the base plate, by welding or the like.

Pairs of spaced parallel transverse ears 30 and 32 rise from the ends of the yoke and support pivots 34 and 36 that extend through the shank portions 38 and 40 of a pair of complementary gripping jaws 42 and 44.

Posts 46 and 48 rise from the base plate [0 and underlie the jaws 42 and 44. The posts will engage the jaws to retain the jaws spread as the yoke is urged against the base plate.

In practical use of the present invention, the yoke rests against the base plate with the jaws spread, as shown in Figure 3, whereby the auger A may be received between the jaws, as the yoke is raised by a user pressing his foot downwardly upon the grip 20. As the yoke is raised, the jaws 42 and i l swing inwardly to grip the auger and thereby permit raising of the auger upon continued lowering of the grip 20.

In View of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described as preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is':

l. A soil auger lifter comprising a base plate having a guide opening for receiving an auger, a yoke pivoted on said base plate for vertical swin ing movement, a pair of cooperative jaws swingably mounted on said yoke, a pair of posts rising from said base plate and underlying said jaws for retaining the jaws spaced relative to each other as the yoke is lowered toward the base plate, and a coil spring underlying said yoke and terminally attached to said yoke and said base plate for yieldingly urging said yoke against said base plate and said jaws against said posts.

2. A soil auger lifter comprising a base plate having a guide opening for receiving an auger, a yoke having a shank portion, means mounted on said base plate pivotally supporting said yoke for movement of the yoke toward and away from the base plate, means yieldingly urging said yoke against said base plate, a reinforcing and strengthening bar terminally secured to said yoke, pairs of ears rising from the yoke, a jaw pivoted between each pair of ears for vertical swinging movement, said jaws overlying said opening and being selectively movable toward and away from each other, and means mounted on said base plate engaging said jaws to retain the jaws spread as the yoke is lowered toward the base plate.

3. A soil auger lifter comprising a base plate having a guide opening for receiving an auger, a yoke having a shank portion, means mounted on said base plate pivotally supporting said yoke for movement of the yoke toward and away from the base plate, means yieldingly urging said yoke against said base plate, a reinforcing and strengthening bar terminally secured to said yoke, pairs of ears rising from the yoke, a jaw pivoted between each pair of ears for vertical swinging movement, said jaws overlying said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 976,600 Rhodes Nov. 22, 1910 1,018,936 Smith Feb, 27, 1912 1,130,144: Carlson Mar. 2, 1915 1,983,749 Garrick Dec. 11, 1934 2,482,950 Toftey Sept. 27, 1949 

